SIGYN (pronounced SEEG-in) is the Norse Goddess of fidelity and devotion. She is the wife of Loki, and she watches over him in his captivity. After Loki orchestrated the death of the God Baldr, the Gods captured him and his two sons by Sigyn, V'ali and Narfi. V'ali was transformed into a wolf, and he then turned on his brother and killed him. The Gods then used Narfi's intestines to bind Loki to three rocks, and the Goddess Skadi places a poisonous snake over his head. The venom from the snake drips down towards Loki, but Sigyn catches it in a bowl to save him. When the bowl is full, she must turn away to empty it, and the drops that fall on Loki cause him such pain that he thrashes violently, resulting in great earthquakes. Loki remains bound with Sigyn by his side until Ragnar"ok, the Twilight of the Gods. Sigyn's name, which means "victorious girlfriend," is also seen as SIGNY or SIGUNA.

MESKHENET is the Egyptian Goddess of the birthing chamber. In addition to Hathor and Taweret, Meskhenet attended at births, protecting the area and also helping to determine the child's destiny. She participated in the judgment of the dead, testifying to the character of the deceased and then assisting in their rebirth into the afterlife. In this role, she was often shown in the presence of Renenutet, another Goddess of fate, and Shai, God of destiny. She is depicted either as a woman with a headdress that symbolized the two-horned uterus of a cow, or as a woman's head on a large brick (which Egyptian women squatted on to give birth). Variations of her name, which means "birthing place," include MESENET, MESKHENT, and MESHKENT.

ROMA is the Roman Goddess of the city of Rome. Temples to her were established in many Roman colonies to cement the relationship of the colony with the authority of Rome. A temple next to the Colosseum was shared by Roma and Venus--the temple consisted of two back-to-back chambers, with a statue of one of the Goddesses in each. Roma's depiction is usually quite similar to that of Minerva, wearing a helmet and carrying a spear or a sword and a shield, but she is often shown seated on a throne. One of her epithets was ROMA AETERNA (Eternal Rome).

TUULIKKI (pronounced TOO-le-kee) is the Finnish Goddess of forest creatures, daughter of Mielikki and Tapio. Her name means "little wind," and she plays a role very similar to that of her mother. Both Tuulikki and Mielikki were asked to help hunters in finding game, and Tuulikki also protected breeding animals, ensuring a continued supply.

"ERTHA" IS THE ANCIENT GERMANIC EARTH GODDESS WHO RULES FERTILITY, THE HEARTH, THE HOME, DOMESTIC LIFE, AND THE WILD HUNT. SHE IS THE SYMBOL OF UNITY OF ALL LIFE IN NATURE. EVERGREENS WERE SACRED TO THIS GODDESS. IT WAS BELIEVED THAT DURING THIS PARTICULAR TIME OF THE YEAR THE "ERTHA" WOULD VISIT THE MORTAL WORLD IN HER CONSECRATED CHARIOT WHICH IS DRAWN BY A PAIR OF YOKED COWS. SHE IS COVERED WITH A VEIL WHICH ONLY A PRIEST IS PERMITTED TO TOUCH.

"ERTHA" IS CELEBRATED AT THE "WINTER SOLSTICE. "AT THIS SEASON ALL IS JOY, AND EVERY PLACE WHICH SHE VISITS IS A SCENE OF FESTIVITY. IT IS SAID THAT ON THIS NIGHT SHE VISITS THE HOUSES OF HER FOLLOWERS BY DESCENDING THROUGH THE SMOKE IN THE CHIMNEY AND LEAVING SMALL GIFTS FOR EACH MEMBER OF THE HOUSEHOLD. DURING THIS PARTICULAR PERIOD, TRIBES WOULD LAY DOWN THEIR WEAPONS AND HOSTILITIES WOULD BE SUSPENDED. AND AS THE FESTIVE SEASON ENDED, THE SAME PRIEST WOULD MAKE PREPARATIONS FOR THE RETURN JOURNEY OF THE GODDESS TO HER OTHER WORLDLY ABOARD.

THESE PREPARATIONS INCLUDED NECESSARY SACRIFICES. FINALLY THE GODDESS LEAVES FOR HER ABODE THROUGH A SECRET LAKE AND THE RITUAL IS PERFORMED WITH THE HELP OF SLAVES WHO ARE ALSO BELIEVED TO BE CONSUMED BY THE LAKE AS HUMAN SACRIFICES. THE BELIEF WAS THAT IF THE GODDESS RETURNED HAPPY AFTER HER SOJOURN SHE WOULD ENSURE A BOUNTIFUL SEASON FOR THE NEXT ONE YEAR.

Segomo ("victor, mighty one") was a war god worshipped in Gaul. In Roman times he was equated with Mars and Hercules. He may be related to Cocidius, a similar god worshipped in Britain. He is commonly associated with the eagle or hawk. The name of the legendary High King of Ireland Nia Segamain, which translates as "sister's son or champion of Segamon", may be related.

GNOWEE is the sun Goddess of the aboriginal people of southeast Australia. Gnowee lived on the earth at a time when the sky was dark and people used torches to see their way. One day while she was gathering yams, her baby son wandered away. With a huge torch, Gnowee set off in search of her son, but she couldn't find him. She continues to search for him every day, lighting our skies with her torch.

KI is the Sumerian Goddess of the earth. In Sumerian mythology, she is the daughter of Nammu, Goddess of the primordial sea. In the later Babylonian mythology, she is the daughter of Anshar and Kishar. In either case, she is the sister/wife of Anu, God of the sky, and mother by him of the Anunnaki, including Enlil, God of the air. Ki was eventually supplanted by Ninhursag as the Great Mother. Her name means "earth."

Now our Lady the Goddess had never loved, but She would solve all the Mysteries, even the Mystery of Death; and so She journeyed to the Underworld.

The Guardians of the Portals challenged her: "Strip off thy garments, lay aside thy jewels; for naught mayest thou bring with the into this our land."

So She laid down her garments and her jewels, and was bound, as are all who enter the Realms of Death, the Mighty One. Such was her beauty, that Death himself knelt and kissed her feet, saying: "Blessed be thy feet, that have brought thee in these ways. Abide with me; but let me place my cold hand on thy heart."

She replied: "I love thee not. Why dost thou cause all things that I love and take delight in to fade and die?"

"Lady," replied Death, "tis age and fate, against which I am helpless. Age causes all things to wither; but when men die at the end of time, I give them rest and peace, and strength so that they may return. But thou! Thou art lovely. Return not; abide with me!"

"It is fate - better so," She said. And She knelt, and Death scourged her tenderly. And She cried, "I feel the pangs of love."

And Death said, "Blessed Be!" and gave her the Fivefold Kiss, saying: "Thus only mayest thou attain to joy and knowledge." And he taught her all the Magicks.

For there are three great events in the life of man: Love, Death, and Resurrection in the new body; and Magick controls them all. For to fulfill love you must return again at the same time and place as the loved one, and you must remember and love them again. But to be reborn you must die and be ready for a new body; and to die you must be born; and without love you may not be born; and this is all the Magicks.

INANNA is the Sumerian Goddess of love, war, and fertility. She is the daughter of the moon God Nanna and Ningal, Goddess of dreams. Interestingly, as a love and fertility Goddess, Inanna is never identified as a mother; she is the original sex Goddess, focussed on pleasure rather than procreation. As such, she is also the patron Goddess of prostitutes.

Inanna was also a kingmaker--the man she chose to be her husband would be king. She was courted by two men, the shepherd Dumuzi and the farmer Enkidu. These two men were representative of the two predominant ways of life in Sumeria--nomadic animal herders and settled farmers. Inanna at first goes with the conventional choice, the farmer, until Dumuzi comes to her and tells her of his qualities. She then accepts him, and Dumuzi becomes king to Inanna's queen.

Unfortunately for Dumuzi, Inanna has a somewhat fickle nature. In one myth, Inanna descends to the underworld to visit her sister Ereshkigal, Goddess of the underworld, after the death of her husband. Ereshkigal fears that Inanna is coming to take over the underworld, and she puts her through tests as she approaches. At each of the seven gates of the underworld, Inanna has to take off a piece of clothing, until she finally arrives, naked, at the throne of Ereshkigal. Even in this humble state, Ereshkigal suspects her sister of treachery, and strikes her dead. Inanna's body is then hung from a hook behind Ereshkigal's throne.

Inanna had the foresight to instruct her servant to seek help if she had not returned in three days. The servant enlisted the help of the God Enki, who sends two creatures to the underworld with the water and food of life to restore Inanna. However, no one is allowed to leave the underworld without someone taking their place. Inanna's servant told her that Dumuzi had not mourned for her when she was missing, as her servants had, and Inanna chose him to take her place. Dumuzi's sister, Geshtinanna, was devastated by the loss of her brother, and her grief touched Inanna's heart. She agreed to allow Geshtinanna to share Dumuzi's place in the underworld, with each of them staying there for six months at a time.

Inanna's name means "Queen of Heaven", and is also seen as INANA, INNIN, INNINI, INNINNA, NINANNA (queen of the sky), NIN-ME-SAR-RA (lady of myriad offices), NINSIANNA (personification of the planet Venus), NIN-EDIN (lady of Edin), USUNZIANNA (exalted cow of heaven), and NU-UGIGANNA (hierodule of heaven). Epithets for her include DESTROYER OF FOREIGN LANDS, FOREMOST IN BATTLE, HEROIC CHAMPION, HOLY PRIESTESS OF HEAVEN, HONORED COUNSELLOR, LADY OF URUK AND NINEVEH, LOVER AND BELOVED UNITED AS ONE, MISTRESS OF HEAVEN, MORNING AND EVENING STAR, ORNAMENT OF HEAVEN, PROTECTRESS OF HARLOTS, QUEEN MOON, QUEEN OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, QUEEN OF THE UNIVERSE, and SUPREME AMONG THE HEAVENLY GODS.

TS'UI SHENG NIANG NIANG (pronounced CHOY SHUNG nee-YUNG nee-YUNG) is the Chinese Goddess of midwifery. She is one of the attendants of Bixia Yuanjin, Goddess of childbirth, and she is called upon for a swift and easy delivery. Ts'ui Sheng Niang Niang also makes sure that babies are delivered to the correct families. She is usually depicted holding a baby and a stick of cinnamon, which is a symbol of growth and success. Her name, which means "the mother who hastens childbirth," is also seen as TSAI SHENG NIANG NIANG, TS'UAI SHEN NIANG NIANG, TSUA SEN NIANG NIANG, TS'UI SHENG SHENG-MU, JU SHENG NIANG NIANG, JUISHEN NIANG NIANG, ZU SHENG NIANG NIANG, SUNG SHENG NIANG NIANG, CHUSHENG NIANG NIANG, CUISHENG SHENG-MU, CHUI-SHEN NIANG NIANG, and CUI SHENG.

Aum! Let us listen with our ears to that which is auspicious, adorable one. Let us perceive with our eyes what is holy and auspicious. With strong, stable body and limbs, may we seek the divine grace and accept the noble order of all our life.

I surrender to you, Lord Ganesha. You are the speaker. You are the listener. You are the giver. You are the sustainer. I am your disciple. Protect me from the front and back. Protect me from the north and the south, from above and below. Protect me from all directions.

You are full of perfect knowledge of truth and awareness. You are full of bliss and pure consciousness. You are truth, consciousness and bliss. You are the absolute awareness. You are full of supreme wisdom and knowledge.

You are the earth, water, fire, air and the space. You are the root foundation of speech. You are beyond the three "gunas": "sattva", "rajas", and "tamas". You are beyond the physical, mental, and causal bodies. You are beyond the three aspects of time: past, present, and future. You are eternally established in the "muladhara" chakra. You have three "shaktis": action, knowledge, and will.

Salutation to the "Ganapati "whose seed mantra is "Aum Gam." We know "Ekadanta", the One-tusked God, the unique God. We meditate upon "Vakratunda", the curved-trunk God. May that unique elephant God illumine our consciousness and direct us along the right track.

One should meditate upon Lord Ganesha having one tusk and four arms; holding the noose and goad with two of them; with the other two indicating "varada", the giving of boons and blessings, and "abhaya mudra", the fear removing gesture; having a mouse as the emblem on his ensign; possessing a big, beautiful belly and large, lovely ears which look like winnowing baskets; having a red cloth and His whole body covered with red sandalwood paste. He should be worshiped with red flowers. He manifests Himself as the universe and is beyond "pakriti", matter, and "Parusha", the manifest God. One who worships Ganesha in this way forever is the best of yogis.

Prostrations to "Vratapati", the Lord of Plenty. Prostrations to "Ganapati", the Lord of various groups of Gods. Prostrations to "Pramathapati", the Lord of Shiva's hosts. Prostrations to "Lambodara", the full-bellied God with a single tusk, destroyer of obstacles, the Son of Shiva, the Bestower of all Blessings.

He who chants this "Ganapati Upanishad" will verily get established in "Brahman", the pure awareness. He will never encounter any obstacles. He will be happy everywhere. He will be free from the five great sins and lesser ones. By reciting this in the evening, the day's sins are destroyed.

By reciting this in the early morning, one becomes free from the sins committed at night in dreams. Reciting this morning and evening, one becomes totally free from all sins. He becomes totally free from all obstacles. He achieves the four divine ends of life: "dharma", "artha", "kama", and "moksha"; virtue, wealth, pleasure, and liberation.

"AUM GANESHA SARANAM SARANAM GANESHA."

"

Exerpted from Ganapatyatharsirsham

translation by Dr. Vasant Lad

JURAS MATE (pronounced YOU-rahs MAH-teh) is the Latvian Goddess of the Sea. Also seen as JUHRAS MATE, her name means Mother of the Sea--she is one of many Latvian mother Goddesses or Mates. She was particularly venerated among the coastal peoples, where fishermen would ask her to ensure a good catch. She is identified with the Lithuanian Goddess Jurate, whose name and attributes as a healing Goddess she shares.

"ERDA "IS THE NORSE GODDESS OF THE EARTH; SHE EXISTS IN AND OF THE EARTH IN A CAVE WHICH WAS SET NEXT TO THE ROOTS OF THE GREAT TREE, "YGGDRASIL", THE WORLD TREE WHO REPRESENTS THE NURTURING OF ALL LIFE. AS THE "SLEEPING EARTH GODDESS OF KNOWLEDGE, "HER PLENTIFUL FOUNTAIN OF WISDOM FLOWS AT THE ROOTS AND WATERS THE WORLD TREE. SO MAGICAL IS HER WATER THAT THE TREE GREW SO LARGE AS TO ALLOW ITS LIMBS TO REACH THE HEAVENS.

ERDA IS THE MOTHER OTHER OF THE THREE NORNS AND IS ALSO THE MOTHER, BY WOTAN, OF THE NINE VALKYRIES. SHE HAS THE ABILITY TO SEE THE FUTURE AND POSSESSES A GREAT WISDOM, AND ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, WE FIND WOTON ASKING FOR ADVICE FROM ERDA. SHE RISES FROM THE EARTH ONLY WHEN SHE SEES IMPENDING DISASTER.

AND, BECAUSE OF HER ASSOCIATION WITH FATE, THE NORSE THOUGHT THERE WAS A CLEAR CORRELATION BETWEEN ERDA AND THE ART OF DIVINATION. HENCE, THEY OFTEN TURNED TO THE EARTH ITSELF FOR GUIDANCE BY USING MANY ASPECTS OF IT AS ORACLES ANIMALS, BIRDS, THE SKY, AND EVEN THE OCEAN. THEY BELIEVED OBSERVATION OF THESE PHENOMENA COULD OFFER DIVINE ANSWERS.OTHERS BELIEVED ERDA COULD BEND THE POWERS OF FATE OVER WHICH SHE RULED.

"ERDA AND HER MAGICAL FOUNTAIN ARE INVOKED BY THOSE IN NEED OF WISDOM WHICH IS USED TO BEND THE POWERS OF FATE. "

JUNO is the Roman Goddess of marriage, time, and women. She is the foremost of the Roman Goddesses, ruling heaven with her husband, Jupiter. Juno also presides over femininity, menstrual cycles, matronly virtues, childbirth, breezes, showers, and new beginnings. She is the mother of the Gods Mars and Vulcan and the Goddess Hebe.

Juno's husband Jupiter may have been King of the Gods, but he wasn't much of a husband. Juno is usually depicted as the jealous wife, and the myths of the Greek Goddess Hera's actions against the lovers of her husband, Zeus, were ascribed to Juno when the Romans adopted Greek mythology. Juno's name is the source of the month of June, and there is an asteroid named after her that orbits the Sun between Mars and Jupiter.

Juno's name means "vital force", and is also seen as IUNO, UNIAL, IONONES, and IUNONES. Epithets and titles include:

ALAHTIN is the Chumash Goddess of the moon. The Chumash of southern California say that her light serves to purify the world. Alahtin lives in the Upper World, which is held up by the wings of Slo'w, the Great Eagle. At some times of the month, her light is obscured by Slo'w stretching out his wings. Alahtin also governs health, particularly women's menses.

EPONA is the Gaulish Goddess of horses, donkeys, and mules. Her worship was adopted by the Roman army and they spread her cult throughout the empire. Epona is usually depicted sitting on a horse or standing with horses around her. She holds a loaf of bread or a horn of plenty, showing that she is also a fertility Goddess. Epona's name means "great mare" and she was also known as EPANE in Spain. The many inscriptions on statues dedicated to her (mostly in Latin) also call her EPONA REGINAE (queen), EPONINA (dear little Epona), ATANTA, POTIA, CATONA, DIBONIA, and VOVESIA.

ALALA (pronounced AL-ah-luh) is the Greek Goddess of the war-cry. She is the daughter of Polemos, the God who is the personification of war, and Hybris, Goddess of aggression. Alala accompanied Ares, God of war and battle, and her name was his battle-cry. Alala's name means "war-cry."

Ay Dede,it means Grandfather Moon. He is a moon god and he have been 6th floor of sky with G"un Ana. In Turkey: Every children know him, because moon is named Ay Dede by Turkish parents. Ay Dede symbolizes with sleeping time and telling fairy tail.

Tva, also transliterated as Tvar, nominative Tvaa, is the heavenly builder, the maker of divine implements, especially Indra's Vajra and the guardian of Soma. Tva is mentioned 65 times in the gveda and is the former of the bodies of men and animals, and therefore called firstborn and invoked when desiring offspring, called garbha-pati or the lord of the womb. Tva is also referred to as Rathakara or the chariot maker and sometimes as Taka in gveda. Tva is mentioned in the Mitanni treaty, which establishes him as a Proto-Indo-Iranian divinity. As per gveda Tvar known as Rathakara belongs to clan of the Bhgus. Similarly,as mentioned in the epic Mahabharata, Tvar or the Rathakara is 'Sukracarya's son, 'Sukracarya (the mentor of the demons) is Bhgu's grandson and Varuibhgu's son. Tva is sometimes associated or identified with similar deities,such as Savit, Prajapati, Vi'svakarman and Puan. He is the father of Sarany, who twice bears twins to Vivasvat (RV 8.26.21), Yama and Yami, also identified as the first humans. He is also the father of Vi'svarupa or Tri'siras who was killed by Indra, in revenge Tva created Vrtra a fearsome dragon. Surprisingly he is also inferred to as Indra's father. Tva is a solar deity in the epic of Mahabharata and the Hariva'sa. He is mentioned as the son of Ka'syapa and Aditi, and is said to have made the three worlds with pieces of the Sun god Surya.

"TASHMETUM" IS A BABYLONIAN LOVE GODDESS WHO RULES OVER LOVE AND SEXUAL POWER WITHIN THE BONDS OF MARRIAGE. IT IS SAID THAT SHE CAN LEAD WOMEN TO THEIR TRUE MATE. HER NAME MEANS "SHE WHO GRANTS REQUESTS". "SHE IS THE WIFE OF NABU, THE GOD PROTECTOR OF THE SCRIBES AND ASTROLOGERS. TOGETHER, AS HUSBAND AND WIFE, THEY ARE SYMBOLS OF STABILITY, PEACE, AND PROSPERITY.

SHE IS THE MERCIFUL MEDIATOR AND THE PROTECTOR OF EVIL BETWEEN THE MORTALS AND THE GODS, AS WELL AS HUSBANDS AND WIVES. HER FOLLOWERS CALL UPON HER TO LISTEN TO PRAYER AND TO GRANT THEIR REQUESTS, AND SHE AND NABU ARE OFTEN INVOKED TOGETHER FOR MATTERS PERTAINING TO LOVE.

CHICOMECOATL (pronounced chee-co-muh-CO-ahtl) is the Aztec Goddess of ripe corn. As Xilonen is the Goddess of the young corn (the maiden aspect), Chicomecoatl is the mother aspect of the corn Goddess. She is also the Goddess of sustenance, as the ripening of the corn was a time of great feasts. She holds both ripe corn and a spear in her hands. As with many Aztec deities, Chicomecoatl was worshipped with a human sacrifice. Every September during a celebration called "ochpaniztli", a maiden was dressed as the Goddess and ritually sacrificed. The priests collected her blood to anoint a statue of the Goddess with it, giving her life. One of the prayers used shows that this was a sign of thanks to Chicomecoatl for a good harvest:

Goddess of the Seven Cobs
Rise, Awake, for you, Our Mother,
are leaving us now, Going back to your
home Tlalocan, the country of rains.

NO GROUP OF STARS KNOWN TO ASTRONOMY HAS EXCITED SUCH UNIVERSAL ATTENTION AS THIS LITTLE CLUSTER OF STARS KNOWN AS THE "PLEAIDES". MIGHTY NATIONS HAVE WORSHIPPED THEM, AND GREAT TEMPLES HAVE BEEN BUILT IN THEIR HONOR. AND, ONE OF THE MOST STRIKING ILLUSTRATIONS OF GODDESS LORE AND EVIDENCE OF ITS ORIGIN IN HUMAN HISTORY IS THE STORY OF THE "SEVEN SISTERS". ACCORDING TO MYTHOLOGY, THEY WERE THE SEVEN DAUGHTERS OF ATLAS, THE GIANT WHO BEARS THE WORLD UPON HIS SHOULDERS; THEIR MOTHER WAS THE NYMPH, PLEIONE. THE STORY IS, THAT THESE SEVEN MAIDENS (THE SEVEN STARS OF PLEIADES), TOGETHER WITH THEIR SISTERS, THE HYADES, WERE TRANSFORMED INTO STARTS ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR AMIABLE VIRTUES AND MUTUAL AFFECTION.

THOSE THE SEVEN NAMES THEY BEAR;ALCYONE AND MEROPE, CELAENO,TAYGETA, AND STEROPE, ELECTRAAND QUIETLY MAIA, SMALL ALIKE AND FAINT,BUT BY THE WILL OF JOVE ILLUSTRIOUS LLAT MORN AND EVENING, SINCE HE MAKES THEM MARKSUMMER AND WINTER, HARVESTING AND SEED TIME.--ARATOS--

ONE MYTH CONCERNING THE PLEIADES RELATE THAT THEY WERE SO BEAUTIFUL IN APPEARANCE THAT ORION UNCEASINGLY PURSUED THEM, MUCH TO THEIR DISCOMFORT. THEY APPEALED TO JUPITER FOR ASSISTANCE, AND HE, PITYING THEM, CHANGED THEM INTO DOVES. THEREUPON THEY FLEW INTO THE SKY AND FOUND A REFUGE AMONG THE STARS.

ONE OF THE SEVEN STARS IN THIS CLUSTER IS NOT AS BRILLIANT AS THE OTHERS, AND THIS STAR, THE GREEKS CALLED THE" LOST PLEIAD. "THE TRADITION THAT ONE OF THE STARS IN THIS GROUP HAS BEEN LOST OR HAS GROWN DIM IS A VERY ANCIENT TALE WHICH HAS BEEN ALMOST UNIVERSALLY FOUND. AS TO WHICH OF THE SEVEN SISTERS DISAPPEARED, MYTHOLOGY IS UNCERTAIN, BUT THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THAT ORIGINALLY ONE OF THESE STRS WAS BRIGHTER THAN IT NOW APPEARS.

"ALCYONE", (THE QUEEN WHO WARDS OFF EVIL) THE BRIGHTEST OF THE PLEIADES, REPRESENTS IN THE SKY THE ATLANTID NYMPH WHO BECAME THE MOTHER OF HYRIEUS BY POSEIDON. SHE IS SOMETIMES CALLED "THE LIGHT OF THE PLEIADES" AND IS FAMOUS FOR LOCATING THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE, THE POINT ABOUT WHICH THE STARRY HEAVENS REVOLVED.

"BEYOND THE MOONS THAT BEAM, THE SUNS THAT BLAZE,"PAST FIELDS OF ETHER, CRIMSON, VIOLET, ROSE,"THE VAST STAR GARDEN OF ETERNITY,"BEHOLD! IT SHINES WITH WHITE, IMMACULATE RAYS,"THE HOME OF PEACE, THE HAVEN OF REPOSE,"THE LOTUS FLOWER OF HEAVEN, ALCYONE."--FRANCIS MACE-- "

THE STAR, "MAIA, "(GRANDMOTHER, MOTHER, THE GREAT ONE) REPRESENTS THE OLDEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL OF THE SISTERS, AND SOME HAVE SAID THAT SHE IS, IN FACT, THE BRIGHTEST OF THE GROUP. MAIA MARRIED JUPITER AND BECAME THE MOTHER OF MERCURY.

"FAREWELL, DELIGHTFUL BOY,"OF JOVE AND MAIA SPRUNG--NEVER BY ME"NOR THOU, NOR OTHER SONGS, SHALL UNREMEMBERED BE."--SHELLEY-- ELECTRA "(SHINING) WAS THE MOTHER OF DARDANUS, THE FOUNDER OF TROY. AGHAST AT THE FALL OF TROY, SHE FLED FROM HER SISTERS THAT SHE MIGHT NOT BE OBLIGED TO GAZE ON THE DESTRUCTION OF THE CITY SO PRECIOUS IN HER SIGHT. ACCORDING TO ANOTHER STORY, SHE VEILED HER FACE SO THAT SHE COULD NOT SEE THE CITY'S FALL. SOME SAY SHE IS THE "LOST PLEIAD" WHO COULD NOT BEAR THE LOSS OF TROY.

"MEROPE" (ELOQUENT) MADE THE MISTAKE OF MARRYING BENEATH HER. WHILE HER SISTERS HAD CHOSEN GODS FOR HUSBANDS WHEREAS SHE SELECTED A MORTAL, THE KING OF CORINTH. SHE SUBSEQUENTLY REPENTED HER CHOICE AND HID HER FACE IN SHAME. MANY CLAIM THAT SHE IS THE "LOST PLEIAD" WHO, FEELING DISGRACED, WITHDREW FROM THE COMPANY OF HER SISTERS. "TAYGETA "(LONG-NECKED) WAS THE PATRON GODDESS OF SPARTA, SINCE HER SON IS THE ONE WHO HAD FOUNDED THAT STATE.

"CALAENO "(SWARTHY) IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN STRUCK BY LIGHTENING. SOME SAY THAT SHE IS THE "LOST PLEIAD "AND THAT, AFTER BEING STRUCK BY THE LIGHTNING, SHE WAS REMOVED AND PLACED INTO THE TAIL OF THE GREAT BEAR.

"STEROPE, "(LIGHTNING, TWINKLING) IT IS SAID, MARRIED CENOMAUS; THEIR OFFSPRING WAS HIPPODAIMA, A BEAUTIFUL MAIDEN. WAS SHE THE LOST PLEIAD?

THE HARPYIAI are the Greek Goddesses of storm winds. They are the daughters of the Titan Thaumas, a sea God, and the Okeanid Elektra, and sisters of Iris, Goddess of rainbows. While the Harpyiai (or Harpies, as they are more commonly called) were originally depicted as being beautiful women with wings, later authors turned them into monsters with huge talons that they used to carry people away. Just as their sister Iris was the messenger of Zeus, the Harpyiai were referred to as the Hounds of Zeus. In one myth, Zeus used them to torment King Phineus of Thrace, who had received the gift of prophecy from Apollo but used it to tell people of the Gods' plans. Zeus blinded Phineus, and then sent the Harpyiai to snatch away his food whenever it was put in front of him. They were eventually driven off by two of the Boreades, sons of Boreas, God of the north wind.

Ancient authors disagreed about the number of the Harpyiai, listing either two or three. AELLO ("storm") was also known as AELLOPOS or AELLOPUS ("storm-footed"), as well as being called NIKOTHOE or NICOTHOE ("running victory"). OKYPETE or OCYPETE ("swift-winged") was also called OKYPODE or OCYPODE ("swift-footed") and OKYTHOE or OCYTHOE ("swift-running"). KELAINO or CELAENO ("black one") was also called PODARKE or PODARCE ("fleet-footed") or PODARGE ("flash-footed")--she was the mother by Zephyros, God of the west wind, of Balios and Xanthos, the immortal horses of Akhilleus. Aside from the name Harpyiai itself, which means "snatchers," the sisters were also known as the THUELLAI ("hurricanes") or the AELLA ("storm winds").

"KHON-MA" IS AN ANCIENT GODDESS OF TIBET. SHE WAS THE "ANCIENT MOTHER "WHOSE NAME MEANS "LUCK" OR "FORTUNE". SHE IS A KIND OF "HECATE" FIGURE, A GHOSTLY QUEEN WHO RODE ON THE BACK OF A LARGE RAM THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. SHE IS CLOTHED IN ROBES OF YELLOW AND CARRIES A GOLDEN NOOSE. BUDDHISTS SAY THAT IT IS SHE WHO RULES OVER ALL OF THE ELEMENTS. SHE MUST BE PROPITIATED IN COMPLICATED WAYS TO ENSURE PROTECTION OF THE HOUSEHOLD.

CERTAIN SUPERSTITIOUS PRACTICES RELATING TO "KHON MA" SUGGEST JUST HOW ANCIENT SHE REALLY IS. THE TIBETANS, WHO FEAR EARTH DEMONS, BELIEVE THAT SHE HAS DOMINION OVER ALL OF THE SPIRITS OF EARTH, AND TO GUARD AGAINST THEIR INFLUENCE, A RAM'S SKULL IS HUNG FROM THE DOORPOST OF A DWELLING AND FILLED WITH OFFERINGS SUCH AS A VARIETY OF SMALL PRECIOUS OBJECTS AS WELL AS SOME DRY FOOD, SUCH AS RICE, WHEAT, AND PULSE, AND FINALLY IMAGES OR PICTURES OF A MAN, A WOMAN, AND A HOUSE. THE OBJECT OF THESE FIGURES IS TO DECEIVE THE DEMONS SHOULD THEY STILL COME IN SPITE OF THIS OFFERING, AND TO MISLEAD THEM INTO THE BELIEF THAT THE PICTURES ARE THE RESIDENTS OF THE HOUSEHOLD SO THAT THE EVIL ONES WRECK HAVOC ON THESE BITS OF WOOD, THUS SAVING THE REAL HUMAN OCCUPANTS. WHEN ALL IS READY, A PRIEST PRAYS TO "OLD MOTHER KHON-MA "THAT SHE WOULD BE PLEASED TO ACCEPT THESE DAINTY OFFERINGS AND TO CLOSE THE DOORS OF THE EARTH SO THAT THE DEMONS ARE UNABLE TO COME FORTH.

CYMIDEI CYMEINFOLL (pronounced KEEM-ud-day KEEM-een-vol) is the Welsh Goddess of war. Along with her husband, Llasar Llaesgyfnewid, she lived beneath a lake in Ireland, until Matholwch, King of Ireland, tried to kill them. Cymidei and Llasar escaped to Wales, taking with them the Cauldron of Regeneration which they guarded. When a warrior was killed in battle, he was thrown into the cauldron, and would emerge alive but without the ability to speak. They gave the cauldron to Bendigeidfran, King of Wales, also known as Bran.

When Bran's sister Branwen was to be married to Matholwch, their half-brother Efnisien threw a fit and mutilated several of Mathowch's horses. In appeasement, Bran gave Matholwch the cauldron as a peace offering to take back to Ireland. Unfortunately, the marriage was not a happy one and Branwen sent word back to Bran that she was being mistreated. He and Efnisien invaded Ireland to get their sister back. The Irish were winning, because the cauldron could keep regenerating their dead warriors. Efnisien leapt into the cauldron and broke it, turning the tide for the Welsh but losing his life in the process.

Cymidei Cymeinfoll's name means "big belly of battle" in reference to the fact that she could give birth to a fully armed warrior every six weeks.

Okuninushi is a divinity in Japanese Shinto. His name literally translates to "Great Land Master", and he is believed to be originally the ruler of Izumo Province, until he was replaced by Ninigi. In compensation, he was made ruler of the unseen world of spirits and magic. He is believed to be a god of nation-building, farming, business and medicine.